Technical Teams

The department’s Technical Teams began in 1980 with the formation of the department's Hazardous Materials Response Unit. Over the years, other specialized units were added such as the Marine Emergency Response Team and the Technical Rescue Units. These technical teams are not intended as a replacement for first-line engine and ladder companies, but rather, to complement them. The department has a variety of specialty equipment and apparatus used to augment general operations. Technical Teams continually drill and train to keep their skills sharp, enabling the department to be an industry leader.

Technical Teams

Emergencies that require dispatch of the Rescue One Unit occur infrequently but they are also the incidents that pose the highest safety risk to both the community and firefighters.

Technical Rescues include:

Collapsed buildings

Trench cave-ins

High-angle rope rescues

Marine accidents requiring the Dive Team

Confined space emergencies

Heavy machinery and transportation incidents

The department’s rescue technicians respond out of Station 14. These technicians are also a valuable resource for training other firefighters in the skills of technical rescues.

The first fireboat was put into service in 1889 and the department has had one ever since.

Marine Emergency Response Team personnel are cross trained with other technical team units. For example, they respond to confined space incidents along with the Technical Rescue Team. They also respond with the Hazardous Materials Team and aid with decontamination equipment.

The Hazardous Materials Response Team (Unit 77) began in 1980 and was the first of several specialized units that the department has in operation today.

A Hazardous Materials incident is generally described as the intentional or accidental release of toxic, combustible, illegal or dangerous nuclear, biological or chemical agents into the environment.

HazMat responses are generalized under three categories:

Intentional releases – This type of hazardous materials response is created when individuals and/or companies knowingly and illegally emit or dump toxic waste into landfills, waterways, the atmosphere and the environment in general.

Accidental releases – This is the most common type of incident that the Hazardous Materials Team responds to. These incidents include the release of all types of spills and leaks of toxic agents resulting from collisions, container breakage or failure, fires, floods and simple human error.

Domestic Terrorism – Domestic Terrorism is the intentional release of deadly biological or chemical agents, such as Anthrax or Nerve Gas, into the general population.

The Hazardous Materials Unit continually progresses and increases capabilities to deal with special emergencies. Equipment has been tested and selected that most effectively protects personnel, detects and identifies released agents and contains them.